Printing and folding machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. N. A. STIMSON.

PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 606,397. Patented June 28, 1898.

THE NOR l5 PETER$ o0 FNUTO THO WASHXNCITON D D :(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2. N. A. STIMSON. PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

Patented June 28,1898.

in: mam: PEIERS 20., PHQTO-LITNQ. wnsmnamm nv c.

(No Model.) 5 Shets-Sheet 3.

N. A. STIMSO N. PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE. No. 606,397. Patented June 28, 1898.

"ruz NORRIS Pzrsns 00.. PHoro-u'mu. WASHINGTON, n. c.

(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 4.

N. A. STIMSON. PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE. No. 606,397. Patented June 28,1898.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 N. A, STIMSON. PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 606,397. Patented June 28, 1898.

X Y N llrrnn Snares ATET rrrcn.

NATHANIEL A. STIMSON, OF HERKIMER, NEW YORK.

PRINTING AND mim MACHINE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letter's 1 mm No. 606,397, dated une 28, 1898. Application filed April 10, 1897.1 Serial No. 681,528. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.- 5

at Herkimer, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for.

Printing and Folding, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel machine or,

contrivance for printing andfolding the slips employed in connection with mail-pouches in the railway mail-service; and it consists in various features, combinations, and details pointed out in the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved machine; Fig. 2, a section from front to rear of the machine in a vertical plane; Fi 3, a sectional View showing the manner of separating one slip or sheet from the pack or bundle in the holder; 4, a similar section showing the manner of dropping the separated blank into the path of the folding blades or plates; Fig. 5, aperspcctive vie-w showing the position of the working parts when the folding operation begins; Fig. 6, a similar view showing the parts as they appear at the completion of the first fold; Fig-7, a bottom face View of the printing mechanism 3 Figs. 8 and 9, transverse Fig. 10, a cross-section of the inking-cylinder Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14:, views of the slip in its original form and in the several stages of folding; Fig. 15, a sectional View of one end of the inking-cylinder.

In the railway mail-service it is the established practice, required by the regulations of the Post Office Department, to fold and place in the hasp of the lock or fastening device or in a receptacle provided for the purpose a slip bearing certain information ca1culated to identify the person or agent by whom the bag or pouch is filled or sealed and designed to aiford a convenient place for memoranda as to the condition of the bag or pouch where opened or examined. These slips usually bear the name of the road or carrier, the number of train or boat, the name of postal agent, and the date of trip. As issued to the agents the slips usually bear only the name of the road or carrier, leaving other matters ble the slips to be placed within the space providedfor them, it is necessary to fold them three times, thus reducing them practically to one-sixth their original length, as will be readily understood upon referring to Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive. Besides thus folding each slip the agent or some one specially employed for the purpose is required to stamp the number of the train on one of the faces'of the folded slip and the name of the agent, number of train, and date or like matters on another face thereof, for which purpose several rubber stamps are usually employed. The operation of folding and printing is slow and tedious, and in the larger post-offices requires a considerable number of employees. My invention aims to simplify and greatly to expedite this work and at the same time to insure greater uniformity of folding and legibility of printing, t-wo matters as to which the ordinary handwork has not always been satisfactory. With these objects in view I adopt the following construction:

Upon a suitable board or base 1 I secure a box-like casin 2 which ma eonvenientl be of metal and within which the working parts are mostly inclosed. The rear portion of the casing 2 rises somewhat above the forward portion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A top plate or cover 3 extends partially,but not e11- tirely, over the raised portion of the casing, leaving the forward side uncovered. The front of this raised portion is also open, except for a cross plate or guard 4:, and between the walls of the open space thus bounded there is arranged a board or follower 5, carried by a swinging bail or frame 6, the arms of which extend downward nearly to the baseboard 1 and are pivoted to the side plates of the casing 2. The upright arms of the bail made by screws or studs passing through openings in the side walls. The construction shown is, however, preferred.

The play of the follower is limited by the top plate 3 and the cross-bar 4, and the space between the front of the follower and the rear face of said bar forms a receptacle for the slips requiring to be folded and stamped or printed. In supplying the receptacle with slips some space is allowed for the play of the follower, but as it is desirable that the range of movement of the follower be always the same, whether the number of slips in the receptacle be larger or smaller, the mechanism illustrated in the upper part of Figs. 2, 3, and 4 is provided. As shown, the rear face of the follower 5 is provided with a perforated or slotted plate 7, into which enters the downwardlyturned end of a stop rod or bar 8, arranged to slide longitudinally through ears or hangers 9 10 of a bracket 11, secured to the under side of top plate 3 or made integral therewith, as found expedient; The opening in plate 7 is long enough in the direction of movement of the follower to permit the requisite backward movement of said follower before the end wall of the opening comes into contact with the downwardly-turned end of stop-bar 8. The stop-bar is free to move forward with the follower when the rear end wall of the opening in plate 7 encounters the downwardlyturned end of the stop-bar 8, but it is prevented by a spring cramping-plate 12 from receding The spring-plate 12 has one end attached to earlO of the bracket 11, while its free end bends outward therefrom toward the follower, and its upper edge bears against the under side of stop-bar 8. The spring-plate is light and elastic and offers no appreciable resistance to the forward movement of the stopbar, but when backward pressure is applied to the rod the edge of the plate engages the rod, and the plate by tending to assume an upright position cramps the bar and holds it against backward movement. From this explanation it will be seen that as the thickness of the pack of slips in front of the follower decreases the follower will be free to move correspondingly farther forward, but that in so doing it will advance the stop-bar a like distance, and thus maintain throughout a uniform range of movement of the follower.

When a fresh supply of slips is to be inserted, it becomes necessary to release the stop-bar and permit it to be moved back. To effect such release, I provide a push-button 13, which. is normally held up by a spring 14: and which carries at its lower end a wedgeblock 15, lying between the supporting ear or arm 10 and spring-plate 14. WVhen the button is pressed inward, the block 15 presses spring-plate 12 outward, causing its end to swing away from and to release bar 8, which is thus made free to recede.

Journaled in the side plates of the casing, at the lower rear part thereof, is a rock-shaft 16, one end of which protrudes beyond the wall of the casing and is furnished with a counterbalanced hand-lever 17, by which the rock-shaft is turned to actuate the several parts of the mechanism.

Rigidly secured to and rising from the rockshaft 16 is a spring plate or arm 18, which is connected by a link 19 with a cross-bar 20, the ends of which pass through openings in the side walls of the casing and are riveted in or otherwise made fast to the upright arms of bail or frame 6. The range of movement of the rock-shaft 16 is greater than is requisite to swing frame or bail 6 from one to the other extreme of its movement, and the consequence is that while spring 18 is straight when the parts are at rest or in normal position it is flexed to one or the other side and put under tension when the lever 17 is moved beyond a given point in either direction. The purposes of this construction are to avoid any straining of the parts in action and to store up a certain amount of power to assist in starting the parts and to control the time when certain parts shall come into action, as will be apparent later. Also secured to and rising from the rockrshaft 16 are two leverarms 21, connected at their upper ends by a cylindrical cross-rod 22, the parts being proferably made in the form of a bail or continuous' rod bent to form three sides of a parallelogram. The cross-rod 22 plays in the space or opening 23 between two spacing-blocks 24, connecting two horizontal slides 25 and 26, the edges of which slides are seated in guideways 27 and 28, best formed by grooving the side walls or plates of the casing 2. It will be obvious, however, that a single spacingblock may be employed in lieu of the two blocks 24, the space 23 being in such case made in the form of a slot or verticallywidened hole.

Above the slide 25 there is arranged a supporting-plate 29, which is sustained by the casing, extends beneath the follower 5, and serves to sustain the slips placed in the space between the follower and the cross-bar at, its forward edge being turned upward a short distance to prevent the accidental escape of the lower ends of said slips.

The upper slide 25 is formed with an opening 30, extending from one side wall of the casin g to the other, or practically so, but leaving sufficient metal at each side to connect the front and rear sections of the slide, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The purpose of this opening is to permit the slips to pass from the holder or receptacle downward into a secondary space or receptacle 32, formed between or bounded by cross-blocks 33, 34, and and the shell or casing 36 of a printing or stamping mechanism, hereinafter described. The blocks and 34 are preferably cast and formed with end plates or flanges for attachment to the casing and with horizontal portions at the top, as shown, but they may be of wood, of sheet metal, or other suitable mate rial.

Projecting forwardly from the rock-shaft 16 are two arms 37 and 38, connected by a cross-rod 3.9,whieh rod plays in the elongated slots or openings40 of two clips 41, made fast to a vertical plate 42, the edges of which are fitted in guides or ways, preferably in the form of grooves 43, cut in the side walls of the easing 2. Plate 42 rises andfalls between the forward side of the cross-block 33 and the rear edge of a cross-block 44 and also between the forward side of shell 36 and the rear side of a block 45, located between the guideways 27 and 28, and finally between two cross-blocks 47 and 48 above'guideway 27 and immediately beneath the top of the forward part of the casing 2. g

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 2, 5, and

6 that the path of slide or plate 42 intersects the paths of slides 25 and 26 and that the movements of the slides must consequently.

mon rockshaft having the arms arranged in.

the relation shown and described.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, block 47 isformcd with forwardly-extending fingers 49,which reach to the front wall of the casin g and overhang a vertically-movable springsustained follower 50, which rises and falls between the front faces of cross-pieces 44, 45, and 47 and a hinged front or door 51, forming a part of the casing.

The door or front 51 is held in its closed position by a catch or fastening 52, here repre sented as a spring-hook, though any suitable lockin g device may be employed. 1

That portion of each finger 49 immediately above the follower 50 is cut away slightly to form a shoulder 53 to prevent the backward movement of the folded slip when broughtbeneath the fingers and over the follower. Between the fingers 49 the lower face of block 47 is cut away or inclined upwardly toward the front side to afford space for a plate 54,

pivotally supportedupon a cross-rod 55, ex-

, tending through and guided in slots 56 in the The rod 55 is carside walls of the casing. ried by links or bars 57, the lower rear ends of which are jointed to radial arms or ears 5 8 of rock-shaft 16, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. A spring 59 (seen in Fig. 5) presses plate 5411pward and holds it normally in contact with the under side of block 47, though it is free to descend when the power of the spring is overcome.

The width of plate 54 and the range of movement of the bars 57 and rod 55 are such that the forward edge of the plat-e shall not quite reach the follower when the rod is in its rearward position, but that said edge shall slightly overlap the follower when the parts are thrown forward, which happens at the same time that slides 25 and 26 are advanced and slide 42 is lowered through depression of hand-lever 17.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the outer face of follower-board 5 is roughened, which may be in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the lower edge of bar 4 is furnished with a downwardly-projecting strip 61 of flexible rubber or equivalent ma- .terial for purposes presently appearing.

62 indicates a' bail the upper cross bari of which carries a thin and flexible strip 63 of 1 rubber orlike material,which may be clamped between the cross-bar and a retaining-plate or otherwise secured. Its free edge projects toward the receptacle or space for'the paper slips and makes contactwith the outermost slip when the lever is operated, thereby lift ing the lower edge of said slip above the ret aining-lip or edge of plate 29 and making it free to descend into the lower space 32 The bail 62 has the lower ends of its side arms secured to the ends of a rock-shaft 64, which is loosely journaled in the arms 37 38, as shown in Figs. 2, 3,and 4. Passing through the rockshaft 64 is a rod 65, the forward end of which extends beneath and normally rests against the lower end of a fixedplate or arm--66. Its rear portion is curved or arched to pass over the rock-shaft 16, and its rear extremity car-' 68 indicates a gravitating guide-plate suspended between. the slip-receptacle and the cross-bar of bail 62 to prevent the feedingstrip 63 thereof from bearin g against the slip while descendin This guide holds the feedstrip away until the lever reaches or very nearly reaches its lowest position, when the bail rides off the guide-plate, and the forward end of rod 65 being free from bar or stop-plate 66 the counterweight 67 rocks shaft 64 and carries the feed-strip 63 into contact with the outermost slip.

Reference has been made to a. printing or stamping mechanism contained within a casing 36. Its construction will be understood upon referring to Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 15, in which 36 indicates a shell or easing of sheet metal containing an inking-cylinder 69 and a printin g-cylinder 70, arranged with their axes parallel. The inking-cylinder is conveniently made of metal tubing closed at one end and provided with a journal, the opposite end having a removable cap 71, also formed with a journal, so. that when the cap is in place the twojournals may be seated in bearings in the end plates of the casing, as seen in Fig. 7. The cylinder 69 is perforated with a large number of small holes and is covered. with a suitable thickness of absorbent material 7 2, which may conveniently be ribbon-wound to the required number of layers and madefast by stitching or otherwise. It is found in use designation and date.

that if such a cylinder be charged with ink of proper consistency-such, for instance, as is used for hand-stamp padsit will in a short time permeate the fibers and fill the interstices of the covering, sufficiently at least to properlyink any type that may be pressed against it. To prevent the ink from leaking out and to guard against the cap 71 working oft", a jamnut 73 is screwed upon the cylinder in advance of the cap, so that it may be turned up against the cap or against an interposed washer.

The printing-cylinder is recessed to receive type or printing-blocks, rubber type being preferred in practice. These will be fitted sufficie'ntly tight to retain their positions and may readily be removed and replaced by others when desired.

In the drawings I have represented three printing-linesone containing a single type or character 6 and the others containing, respectively, J. Brown and Tr. 6, Jan. 5, 1897, these being merely illustrative and indicating, respectively, the number of the train, the name of conductor, and the train The matter may be varied indefinitely and as required.

The printing-cylinder 70 has at each end of the type-lines a disk orcollar 74, a little more than type high, but formed with a flat face 75 on one side. It is furtherfurnished with a radial pin or stud 76, which is of such length as to project slightly below the casing 36 and into the path of slide 26 when the parts are in their normal positions. To hold the printing or type cylinder normally in a given position, one of. its reduced end portions is flattened, as at 77, and a spring 78 is arranged to bear against the flattened face. Owing to the width of the flattened face and to the fact that when the cylinder is turned slightly from its normal position the spring bears upon one of the angles formed by the meeting of the periphery and the flattened face, the spring tends to restore the cylinder to normal position whenever and so long as the spring bears at all upon the flattened face. This is important asa means of effecting a final movement of the cylinder sufficient to carry pin 76 again into the path of slide 26 when said slide has receded so far as to be incapable of further acting upon the cylinder.

' In this way I am enabled to turn the printingcylinder continuously in one direction and avoid applying ink to the folding-slide 26 on the backward movement.

The slips to be folded are of uniform size and bear aprinted legend indicating the office or branch office from which the mail-pouches are sent.

printed legend, I have provided an adjustable stop to determine the depth to which the slip shall fall in the receptacle 32, this in turn de- The printing should be at a uniform distance from the top of the slip, but in 1 termining the relation of the printed line to the folder 26, which first acts upon the slip This stop consists of a rod or wire 79, one or more, projecting from a rock-shaft 80 and extending across the space 32, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the rock-shaft being provided with an actuating rod or lever 81, by which it may be rocked to raise or lower the supporting-wire 79. Lever 81 may be locked or supported at any desired elevation or may be kept under instant control of the operator by being held in one hand while the lever 17 is actuated by the other hand.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The push-button 13 is depressed, the follower 5 thrown back as far as it will go, and a supply of slips 82 placed in the receptacle or space between the follower 5 and cross-bar 4, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. Hand-lever 17, being now depressed, actuates the slides without elfect, because no slip is in position to be acted upon; but said depression carries downward the bail 62 through the connections described, causing its cross-bar to ride downward over guide 68 until the lower end of said guide is reached, whereupon counterweight 67 acts to rock the shaft 64, and thus to carry the feeding-strip 63 into contact with the outermost slip 82, as shown in Fig. By the same movement spring 18, through link 19, presses the follower 5 against the slips 82, clamping them between the follower and the bar 4, the spring 18 permitting the lever 17 to descend after the follower 5 has moved as far as permitted by the slips 82 and applying an elastic pressure to said slips through the follower. The hand lever is next elevated, spring 18 continuing to press and hold the follower 5 against the slips during the first part ofsuch upward movement and aiding the operator in effecting such movement. As the lever ascends and rocks shaft 16 arms 37 and 38 and rock-shaft 64 are carried upward, thus elevating bail 62 and causing feed-strip 63, which is pressed against the outer slip 82 by counterweight 67, to engage said slip by virtue of its .frictional or: adhesive contact and to move upward the lower portion of said slip, while its upper part is still clamped between bar 4 and follower 5.

the action being closely analogous to that of forming a bow or loop in a thin sheet by the thumb and finger. When the lever 17 is about half-way up and after the slip has been bowed .j out, as in Fig. 4, so that-its outer face rests beneath the edge of strip 61, which precludes slipping, spring 18 passes its medial position and begins to draw the follower 5 away from the slips 82, freeing them and permitting the bowed outer strip by reason of its resilience, aided, it may be, by the strip 63, to resume its normal flat or straight form, the feed-stri p 63 being just at that moment withdrawn by reason of rod 65 encountering stop 66 and rocking shaft 64, as indicated in Fig. 4, throwing the bail 62 clear of latch 68, which there- IIO As a result the slip is bowed outward, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4,

upon swings back to normal position. In resuming its original shape the slip springs outward past the retaining lip or edge of supporting-plate 29, and the slip consequently falls directly downward into the receptacle or space 32, while all others remain in the upper holder. These several operations take place at each actuation of the lever down and back but of course no folding or printing is done on the first actuation, which merely brings a slip to the space 32. When the lever 17 is depressed a second time, a slip having already been delivered to receptacle 32 through the opening in slide 25, slide or plate 26 comes into contact with the slipin said receptacle midway between its upper and lower ends and produces the first fold therein, as indicated in- Figs. 6, 8, and 12. In forming this fold slide or plate 26 carries the slip, folded over its edge, between the shell or casing 36 of the printing mechanism and the top of cross-block 33 and in so doing strikes the pin,76 of the printing cylinder. As the slide advances and pushes the pin before it the flattened faces are carried upward, bringing the peripheral faces or cylindrical portions of the disks 74 into contact with the upper face of the slide,which continues the rotation of the printing-cylinder. In this way the successive printing-lines of the cylinder are brought into play, and the printing is effected, and those lines are so located upon the cylinder as properly to place the printing uponthe slip. By thus rotating the printingcylinder its type are carried into contact with the inking-cylinder and reinked, and the type-cylinder turns until the pin 76 comes to the position indicated in Fig. 9 in contact with the upper face or slide 26, theflattened faces 7 5 of disks 7 i being opposite said plate and spring 7 8 bearing at one of the edges or angles of flattened face 77 ready to restore the cylinder to theposition shown in Slide or Fig. 2 upon withdrawal of plate 26. plate 26 carries the slip forward and lays it once folded across the path of vertical slide 42, about two-thirds of it being in front and the remaining one-third inrearof said slide, then recedes, leaving the slip in the position noted, the friction of the two faces of the slip against the parts between which it is forced being sufficient to prevent its backward movement with the slide 26. As the lever is again elevated a second slip is delivered to space 32, and slide 42, moving upward, strikes the once-folded slip and carries it upward between blocks 47 and 4 8, producing a second fold therein, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 13; A third descent of hand-lever 17 carries the forward edge of slide 25 against the twice-folded slip, the vertical slide 42 withdrawing therefrom just before slide 26 reaches it. Slide 25 carries the slip forward beneath block 47 and over the spring-sustained plate 54., forming a third and final fold,as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 14. Plate 54: moves forward with the. folded I slip far enough to overlap the follower-block 50, and whena folded slip has already been deposited upon said follower the plate 54 serves to guide the newly-folded slip to a position above the one previously there, thus precluding one from encountering the other and destroying either or clogging the machine. As soon as the folded slip passes in front of the shoulders 53 it springs open sufficiently to engage said shoulders and is thereby precluded from receding with the slide 25, which then moves backward, as does the plate 54;. Each successive depression and return of the hand-lever 17 after one slip is carried through the machine puts the final fold in one slip and delivers it into the front storagecompartment, produces the first and the second folds in another slip,and delivers still another to the receptacle or space 32. To permit the twice-folded slip to turn readily between the blocks a7 and L8 and to withdraw from between them, block 47 has its rear lower edge rounded off and block 4:8 is made concave in its forward face, as seen in Fig. 2.

It is obvious that'in its details the mechanism is subject to variation both as to form and materials. Thus the use of wire rods or bails for the parts 21, 62, and 79 is found con venient, cheap, and desirable; but manifestly separate arms with suitable cross-bars might be substituted. The slides 25 and 26 could be bent up from a single sheet of metal and two or more of the cross-blocks might be made in one piece. These and like variations fall within the province of the constructing mechanic and do not in any manner affect the principles of operation. When it is desired merely to fold the slips without printing them, a dummy shell or case or a solid block having the form of shell 36 may be substituted therefor, some filling member being necessary to form one wall of the folding-space for making the first fold in the slip. 1 I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. In a folding-machine, the combination of a receptacle to contain successively the sheets or blanks to be folded; a slide movable across said receptacle; a second slide movable in a plane intersecting that of the first-mentioned slide; blocks or bodies on opposite sides of the slides; a rock-shaft 5 arms extending from the rock-shaft to the respective slides; and a lever for rocking said shaft; whereby the slides are caused to act successively upon the sheet and to fold and refold the same.

2. In afolding-machine,the combination of two slides movable in parallel planes; 2. third slide movable in a'planeintersectingthose of the other two slides; blocks or bodies onopposite sides of each slide; and means for simultaneously advancing the parallel slides and receding the intersecting slide, and for receding the parallel slides and advancing the intersecting slide; whereby one of the parallel slides is caused to act upon a sheet or slip,

.to produce aninitial fold therein, and to deliver it across the path of the intersecting slide; the intersecting slide is caused to produce a second fold and to deliver the folded sheet across the path of the second of the parallel slides; and said second parallel slide is caused to form a third fold in the sheet, substantially as set forth.

'3. In combination with suitable guiding or confining blocks or bodies, slides 25, 26 and 42 movable between said blocks; rock-shaft 16; connecting-arms 21, 37 and 38; and a lever for rocking the shaft 16.

4. A feeding mechanism, comprising the following elements in combination: a plate or platform upon which the lower ends of sheets or slips may rest; a front bar or plate to retain said slips; a follower movable toward and from said front bar; a rock-shaft; an elastic or yielding connection between said rock-shaft and follower; arms carried by the rock-shaft; a second rock-shaft pivoted in said arms; a rod or bail carried by said second rock-shaft and provided with a feeding strip or edge; a counterbalance tending to move the rod or bail toward the follower; means for throwing the rod or hail from said follower; and a lever for rocking the main rock-shaft.

5. In combination with horizontal support 29 having an upturned edge or lip, a fixed retaining-bar 4; a follower 5; a feeding-strip 63; and means for moving the feeding-strip toward the follower, lifting it, and then moving it away from the follower, substantially as set forth; whereby the free lower end of a sheet held between the retaining-bar and follower is lifted up from behind the upturned edge or lip of support 29 and permitted to descend in front thereof.

6. The combination substantially as set forth, of a supporting-plate 29; a retainingbar 4; a follower 5; a rock-shaft 16; an elastic or yielding connection between the rockshaft and the follower; a feeding plate or strip 63; a connection between the rock-shaft 16 and the feeding-strip; a latch or guide 68 to hold the feeding-strip away from the follower during a portion of its movement; and means for rocking shaft 16.

7. In combination with supporting-plate 29; retaining-bar 4 provided with flexible strip 61; follower 5; rock-shaft 16; spring 18; link 19 connecting the follower and spring 18; arms 37 and 38 carried by rock-shaft 16; rockshaft 64 pivotally supported in said arms; rod or bail 65 carried by rock-shaft 64 and provided with counterbalance 67; stop 66 located in the path of rod or bail 65; bail or rod 62 carried by rock-shaft 64 and provided with a feeding edge or lip; gravitating guide 68; and means for rocking shaft 16, all substantially as described.

' 8. In combination with a holder or receptacle adapted to contain sheets or slips in an uprightposition, a bottom support having an upturned lip or edge; a follower adapted to clamp the sheets and to release them, alternately; a feeding-strip adapted to engage or adhere to the surface of a sheet or slip; and means for carrying the feedingstrip into contact with the sheet, movin git in plane therewith, and then withdrawing it from the sheet, whereby the sheet is bowed or buckled while clamped, is lifted above the lip or edge of the bottom support, and is allowed to straighten out and thus to spring from the holder when released, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with a sheet holder or receptacle having a retaining-bar at one side; a follower at the opposite side; a forwardlymovable stop in rear of the follower; a detent to prevent the backward movement of said stop; and a connection between the follower and the stop, permitting a limited play of the follower independently of the stop; whereby the range of movement of the follower is maintained constantly the same.

10. In combination with a receptacle for sheets or slips, having a retaining baror plate at the front; a follower movable toward and from said retaining-bar; a slidable stop-rod 8 in rear of said follower; a connection between the follower and the stop-rod permitting a limited play of the follower independently of the stop-rod; and a locking spring or detent 12 adapted to engage the stop-rod and prevent its backward movement.

11. In combination with a follower; a stoprod, free to move forward with the follower; a loose connection between the follower and the stop; a locking device to prevent the backward movement of the stop-rod; and means substantially as shown for throwing the locking device out of engagement with the stop rod.

12. In combination with follower 5 provided with slotted plate '7; stop-rod 8; spring-detent 12 adapted to engage said rod; block 15 arranged to act upon and to disengage the detent; and a push-button for actuating said block.

13. In a folding-machine, the combination of the following elements: a casing or framework containing a space or receptacle for sheets to be folded; a slide 26 movable in a plane intersecting said receptacle; a slide 42, movable across the path of slide 26; a slide 25 movable across the path of slide 42; a rockshaft 16 provided with a lever for rocking it; and connections between said rock-shaft and slides substantially such as shown and described; whereby the several slides are caused to act upon the sheet in proper sequence.

14. In combination with a casing provided witha chamber or holder to receive folded slips, and with a follower in said chamber arranged to press constantly against the folded slips therein; a folding-slide adapted to fold a sheet or slip and deliver it to the chamber; an interposed bridge-plate adapted to move forward over the follower or over the folded sheets thereon to prevent interference with an incoming slip; and means for advancing and receding the bridge-plate.

IIO

15. In a folding-machine, the combination of a casing provided with a receiving-chamber for the folded sheets; a follower contained within said chamber; overhanging fingers against which the folded sheets are pressed by the follower; a slide adapted to carry a folded slip or sheet to the receiving-chamber; a bridging-plate adapted to move forward in advance of the slide and to bear upon the follower or the uppermost folded sheet; a rockshaft; and intermediate connections between the rock-shaft and the slide and bridge-plate, whereby said parts are advanced and receded in proper sequence.

16. In combination with casing 2 provided with fingers 49; follower slide 25; plate 54 interposed between the slide and the follower; rock-shaft 16; arm 21 connectingslide 25 with said rock-shaft; and links or bars 57 connecting the plate-support and arms on the rock-shaft; substantially as described and shown. I

17. In combination with folding-slide 25, and blocks or bodies 45 and 47 fingers 49 having shoulders 53. L

18. In combination with folding-slide 25, and blocks or bodies 45 and 4:7 bridge-plate 54E; fingers 49 provided with shoulders 53; and follower 50, all substantially as described and shown.

19. In a folding-machine, the combination of two parallel folding slides in different planes; and a holder or receptacle for sheets to be folded, intersecting the planes of the slides, one slide being provided with an opening for the passage through it of the sheets, substantially as shown.

20. In combination with slide 25 having opening 30; slide 26 receptacle or sheet-holder 32; and means for reciprocating the slides.

21. In a folding-machine, the combination of a sheet holder or receptacle 32; a folding blade 26 movable in aplane intersecting said holder; a rock-shaft 80; an arm 79 extending from said rock-shaft across the lower part of the holder; and a lever for rocking said shaft.

22. In combination with a folding-slide 26, printing-cylinder 7 0, provided with pin 7 6, in the path of said slide, adapted to be struck by the slide and to put the cylinder positively into motion, and thereafter to leave the cylinder free of the slide except as to frictional contact.

23 In combination with slide 26, printingeylinder 7 0 having pin 76 and flattened bearing-face 77 5 and spring 78, arranged to bear normally upon said flattened face and thus to hold pin 76 in the path of the slide 26.

24. In combination with a slide 26; print ing-cylinder 70, having disks or collars 74 provided with flattened faces 7 5, and having also pin 7 6 and flattened face 77 and a spring 78 arranged to bear normally upon the flattened face 77, to hold the pin 76 normally in the path of the slide 26 and to complete the rotation of said cylinder.

25-. The herein-described printing m eehauism, consisting of cylinder provided with collars '74: having flattened faces 75, pin 76 and flattened face 77; spring 78; inking-cylinder 69; and slide 26 adapted to carry the sheet or slip to be printed and to rotate the printing-cylinder, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

NATHANIEL A. STIMSON.

WVitnesses:

S. W. STIMSON, S. W. LIN'rs. 

